Category: California

Andy Wirth is the CEO of Squaw Valley Ski Holdings. He went to Colorado State University and Edinburgh University. Last year, Reno Airport Board appointed Andy as their new chair.Andy is a major contributor to the community and environmental organizations in the Lake Tahoe area. He is dedicated to improving the area as well as making the resort one of the best tourist destinations in the world. Andy spearheaded the construction of a base-to-base Gondola by getting to an agreement with Troy Caldwell.

The Reno-Gazette Journal reported that Lake Tahoe North Shore communities have been facing a rough time after an epic drought damaged the winter resorts and the small businesses that depend on them. The community is also facing a civic challenge in the form of an incorporation battle over the Olympic Valley, where Squaw Valley Resort and most iconic winter sports terrain are located. Andy Wirth considers incorporation of the valley as a huge threat not only to the businesses in the area, but also the political climate.

It has been tough for the last four years. Nevertheless, good news to Andy Wirth is that there is a relief on both challenges. Nature has been fair with them since cold temperatures and early storms set in earlier, and this enables the resorts to open weeks earlier than they did in the previous decade.

The other challenge was eliminated when the supporters of the incorporation formally withdrew from their determinations to incorporate Olympic Valley. Squaw Valley Ski Holdings spent a lot of money to oppose the incorporation. They battled the incorporation since it would have resulted to increased taxes on the businesses as well as the residents in the area and decreased level of services such as snow plowing and road maintenance. In addition, Olympic Valley would have been isolated from the rest of the North Shore communities, which they pool resources to deal with local issues.

The incorporation would be a long-term challenge to people operating businesses in the area. The incorporation’s backers said that Squaw Valley opposed the incorporation for their self-gain. According to the backers, Squaw Valley has plans for a gondola that would connect the two resorts, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. In addition, the backers said that Squaw has plans to venture more in the real estate by having more commercial and residential developments.

Olympic Valley incorporation supporters reported that Squaw Valley feared answering to a town council and instead opted to go through the Auburn, California based County Board of Supervisors for land matters. Ski Valley rejected the accusations from the backers and pointed out that the backers had also spent a considerable amount of cash.With the Incorporate Olympic Valley threat eliminated, Andy said he want the community to unite and work on issues like transportation.